Fairfax County School Board unanimously ratifies first collective bargaining agreements for FCPS staff

The Fairfax County School Board on Jan. 9 unanimously ratified tentative collective bargaining agreements between Fairfax County Public Schools and the Fairfax Education Unions (FEU) for licensed instructional and operational bargaining units, with an effective date of July 1, 2025.

The contract, the first collective bargaining agreement for FCPS, contains multiple provisions board members and union representatives described as “major wins,” including a 7% pay increase in the first year, protections for elementary teacher planning time, maintenance of a special‑education contract, expanded pay consistency for transportation and food‑service staff during school breaks, just‑cause language for discipline, and formal structures for ongoing labor‑management collaboration on health and safety.

The agreement drew sustained public comment and multiple speakers at the meeting who participated in bargaining or urged its ratification. Emily Vanderhoff, an FCPS teacher and member of the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers, said she came to celebrate the board’s vote. “This contract is a first step in improving the work lives of FCPS staff,” Vanderhoff told the board, adding it includes “substantial wage increases” and protections that she said would help with retention.

Molly Cronin, a learning disabilities teacher who served on the Fairfax Education Association’s core bargaining team, highlighted a provision protecting elementary teacher planning time. “When you vote in favor of this, you support elementary school teachers having a minimum of 240 minutes of unencumbered planning time,” Cronin said, noting the contract limits collaborative team meetings to a maximum of 60 minutes and requires planning time be provided in 30‑minute increments.

Chair Frisch, who moved the ratification motion, described the vote as the culmination of a multi‑year effort that began with a 2020 change in the board’s legislative program and subsequent state action allowing localities to grant collective bargaining rights. Frisch said the contract is intended to help the district recruit and retain staff and urged state support for funding. “Collective bargaining is not a finish line, but a beginning,” he said.

Board members across the dais praised the agreement and emphasized the need to secure funding from the county and state to implement the terms. Several members said they expect follow‑on budget negotiations with the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and with state legislators. Eugenio Fisher Sanchez, a resource teacher who participated on the bargaining team, urged both the school board and the board of supervisors to treat the agreement as an “infrastructure investment” to retain and attract teachers.

Votes at a glance - Ratification of tentative collective bargaining agreements between Fairfax County Public Schools and the Fairfax Education Unions (licensed instructional and operational units). Motion: “I move that the school board ratify the tentative collective bargaining agreements between Fairfax County Public Schools and the Fairfax Education Unions for the licensed instructional and operational bargaining units with an effective date of July 1, 2025.” Mover: Chair Frisch. Second: Miss Maron. Vote: unanimous (listed board members recorded as voting yes: Miss Maron; Mr. McElveen; Dr. Anderson; Mr. McDaniel; Miss Anderson; Miss Sizemore Heizer; Mr. Dunn; Mr. Moon; Miss Saint John Cunning; Miss Lady; Miss Dixit; Chair Frisch). Outcome: approved.

What it means next The contracts take effect July 1, 2025. Board members repeatedly noted the need for separate budget approvals and for the board to work with county and state officials to secure funding to cover the contract provisions. Several speakers said FCPS staff and union leaders had used an interest‑based bargaining model and that implementation will require coordination among the superintendent’s office, school HR, and the unions.

The meeting record shows broad public support and unanimous board approval; the ratification completes the board’s contractual step but not the funding work that the board and its partners must now pursue.